eschatology, Kingdom of Great Worth (Mt.13)

As Jesus spoke in parables about the kingdom of heaven, these verses can be applied to both the value of salvation, as well as the value of the Millennial kingdom.  For the Israelite to enter the Millennium where all their covenants are fulfilled, it requires them to be obedient - which requires salvation through Jesus Christ.  This is the only way.   Many Israelites wanted the land and blessings, but did not want to "pay the price" - to accept Jesus as Christ (their Messiah) - which ironically is God's free gift.

The cost - for anyone to be saved - requires one to give up everything (one's pride, one's self-reliance, one's "self"... one must die to sin) in order to accept Jesus as one's Lord and Savior.  This is the only way.  And what a believer gets in return is righteousness through Jesus Christ, and eternal life as a child of God with the perfect heavenly Father...

(Matthew 13:44)  “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

(Matthew 13:45-46)  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Once a person is saved, God is not done with us yet.  As we honor Him, He blesses us with joy, peace and love... strength, wisdom and guidance... hope, purpose and growth... etc.;  which in turn blesses others through our testimony of what God has done and is doing in our lives.  The following scriptures support this, as it refers to how it will be in the Millennium with Jesus on the throne to establish flourishing kingdom...

(Matthew 13:31-32)  He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

(Matthew 13:33-35)  He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open My mouth in parables;  I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Today's takeaway:  typically when the Bible uses leaven in an allegory it is negative.  Here the leaven is positive.  When we are saved, we become "whole" - we are sealed by the Holy Spirit - God working in us and through us (as we allow).  Let us never forget that.  God never forces Himself on us.  We don't become robots!  Hm, I'm thinking of a weird allegory.  The Holy Spirit could be for us - like having an inner GPS.

A car can have a GPS, but it will only be useful if we turn it on and engage it.  It will only be useful if we listen to it.  It will only be useful if we actually physically follow its directions.  Now, I've dealt with several different GPS systems... many have led me in circles or led me astray or simply didn't recognize where I wanted to go.  But as Christians, we have the PERFECT inner GPS which we can trust one hundred percent...

(Romans 5:1-5)  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

(1 Corinthians 3:10-17)  According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.